WHS library

Last updated
18 June 2024

Bullying and harassment

Safe Work Australia

Dealing with workplace bullying – a worker’s guide provides information for employees who believe they are experiencing or witnessing workplace bullying and those who have had a bullying complaint made against them. 

Guide for preventing and responding to workplace bullying is for employers and managers and provides advice on how to manage the risks of workplace bullying as part of meeting their duties under work health and safety legislation.

Workplace violence and aggression – advice for workers information sheet provides advice for workers about duties under the model work health and safety (WHS) laws and what to do if workers experience workplace violence or aggression.

Comcare

This resource kit from Comcare can assist workplaces to prevent workplace bullying. The kit includes a pocket guide and a two-minute talk script for managers

Australian Human Rights Commission

Advice on violence, harassment and bullying

Sexual Harassment

Comcare

Sexual harassment awareness presentation made to parliamentarians on 28 November 2012.

Creating mentally healthy workplaces

Working together: Promoting mental health and wellbeing at work

A publication prepared jointly by Comcare and the Australian Public Service Commission. As it was developed primarily for the APS, it refers to some aspects of the employee lifecycle that operate differently in the MOP(S) Act employment environment.

For specific advice on MOP(S) Act employment, tailored to the particular circumstances of a Senator or Member’s office, contact the PWSS Help Desk

Comcare resources

Safe Work Australia

Australian Human Rights Commission 

Beyond Blue 

Mental health self-help resources

  • Head to Health from the Department of Health provides information, resources and services to support wellbeing.
  • MoodGYM is an interactive web program developed by the Australian National University, designed to prevent depression.
  • MindSpot is an online assessment and treatment funded by the Department of Health and developed by Macquarie University. Treatment courses cover wellbeing and managing symptoms of depression and anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder.
  • e-couch is a self-help interactive program developed the Australian National University on depression, generalised anxiety and worry, social anxiety, relationship breakdown, and loss and grief.
  • myCompass developed by the Black Dog Institute with support from the Department of Health, which includes interactive modules, and aims to help users manage moods associated with stress, anxiety and depression.

Wellbeing tip sheets

The Employee Assistance Program (EAP) provider offers a range of wellbeing tip sheets including:

A guide to becoming your best you

Suicide prevention

SUICIDE, the forever decision by Dr. Paul G. Quinnett.

SANE Australia fact sheets:

Community services:

  • Police Assistance Line: 131 444
  • Lifeline: 13 11 14
  • Beyond Blue: 1300 224 636
  • Suicide Call Back Service: 1300 659 467

Domestic violence referral services

Guidance on employment and management

Guidance on hiring new employees, published by the Fair Work Ombudsman. This material is general in nature, and refers to some employer responsibilities, such as the administration of salaries, superannuation and taxation, that are undertaken by the Department of Finance on behalf of parliamentarians. For specific advice MOP(S) Act employees and parliamentarians should contact the PWSS Help Desk. 

The Fair Work Ombudsman has a suite of online training materials available to encourage good employment practices. The online learning courses take around 20 - 30 minutes to complete. Currently, the topics covered are: hiring employees, starting a new job, difficult conversations in the workplace and managing performance.

Workplace safety

Comcare guides for employers and workers:

Safe Work Australia guides:

NSW Health fact sheet:

Heart Foundation guides:

Managing relationships at work

Comcare 

Safe Work Australia

Travelling for work

NSW Government fact sheet:

Safe Work Australia fact sheet:

Better Health Victoria fact sheet:

Smart Traveller fact sheet

Learning and Development

PWSS offers a free professional development program (PDP) to MOP(S) Act employees. PDP courses are delivered in a number of formats to suit your work schedule including face to face training, face to screen live training hosted on GovTEAMS and online self-paced learning. Further information can be found at MOPS Learning.